Goal detection equipment for football

ABSTRACT

For the realization of the industrial project above mentioned, look at all the phases for creating the electronic bladder. Ten different versions have been invented to lodge the microsensors, up to the enough quantity, or the pressure system itself. Pictures ( 1 ), ( 2 ), ( 3 ), ( 4 ), ( 5 ), ( 6 ), ( 7 ), ( 8 ), show how the electronic sensors of survey and transmission can be lodged. Pictures ( 9 ), ( 10 ), show the cobweb that can be created in the center of the bladder to lodge the pressure microsensors, the metallic surveying microsensors, or the infrared rays ones. Picture ( 11 ) shows the lodging of the electronic surveying system under the grass cover, that immediately transmits any signal noticed to the chronometer or bracelet in endowment to the central referee or to his collaborators. Always in the figure ( 11 ) the signs show as: (A) the electronic football is going to enter the goal line, (B) half of the electronic football over the goal line, (C) the electronic football has (B) gone beyond the goal line. The referee immediately receives communication of the happened goal.

The invention described herein concerns the field of sports equipment. Namely, it consists of both mobile and ground-based equipment with magneto-acoustic DR anti-tampering electronic systems (DOUBLE RESONATOR 58 KHZ) of any type. Both soccer and 5-a-side football are very popular sports, played on suitable pitches with a lawn or synthetic green. In both football and 5a-side football the referee cannot assign scores if he has not seen the ball cross the goal-line.

In recent examples, the referees in football matches have not called a goal even when the football had gone over the goal line for about 80 cm. As per football regulations, a goal is scored when the football crosses the goal line, i.e. the 12-cm-thick line going from the right post to the left one, forming a rectangular area called the goal area (length=mt 7.32; height: mt 2.44).

The industrial invention entitled “Electronic Sports Equipment—A New Fully-Fitted Football Ground” was devised to give certain, immediate and unobjectionable notice of the goal to the referee, who might have missed to see it, either for an oversight or because his view was covered by the players standing before him, or else for other unintentional mistakes. Whatever the reason, the fact that a goal has not been called is detrimental to either team; the present invention would eliminate all grounds for doubts on the referee's bad faith or uncertainties. As shown in the drawings, the “axonometric plan” (sheet no. 1) describes all the possible electronic options to be adapted to this invention. Drawing no. 2 shows the full equipment located behind the goal as well as its possible position. The components may be placed in different horizontal and vertical positions at different distances. The electronic components may be located in either radio detection raceways or special transparent devices of suitable materials, avoiding all the fibers that may be dangerous for the goalkeeper and nearby attendants. The Electronic Football Detection Area starts at 30 cm inside the goal line, that is, outside the football ground. This favours electronic detection because the goalkeeper or other players sometimes lean against the post or run inside the goal area while playing. As shown in pictures 3, dwg no. 2, the drawing of the detection area includes three circles which represent the football entering the goal. Pictures A represents the football entering the goal. In this case the referee should call a scored goal; should be fail to do so, the scored goal would be immediately detected by the electronic system and the referee and his co-operators would be informed by means of a VIBRACALL signal or a LED fitted in their wrist or pocket watches, whichever they prefer.

Pictures B shows that the football has not crossed the white goal line; thus, it is not Possible to call a goal. However, referees may sometimes make mistakes because their View is hindered when the ball is stopped by the goalkeeper or a back player defending the ball from the opponents.

Pictures C shows a football that has not even started to cross the goal line; this means that a goal can not be called. However, goals are sometimes called, either because of an action by the forward players or because the referee and his co-operators cannot see the action properly. This leads to enraged objections on behalf of the football teams and their supporters. The mistakes made by referees are discussed for weeks after the match and their actions are questioned, not to mention the damage done to the football ground facilities by the team supporters.

Drawing no. 3 shows the “Electronic Goal Detection System”. This system is useful to Prevent an unfortunately common mistake that has occurred several times in the past few years. Pictures 4 shows the electronic detection systems to be fitted horizontally, whereby the component which is to detect the football when crossing the line (see Pictures 3, item A) is located underground behind the goal line, with no damage to the device or the goal area, as shown in the front view (Drawing no. 4, enclosed herewith) in its different options to be adopted for the correct detection of the football crossing the line, as shown in A.

All the proposed solutions are acceptable. The electronic devices may be located either Separately or assembled together in order to achieve the required aim, i.e., inform the referee when a goal is scored, in real time and with no mistake, by means of the relevant watch which adopts the same system (as shown in the enclosed pictures) in different versions: round, rectangular, square and pocket watches.

The detection sensors may be either passive (as in this case) or active (in future implementations). The sensors included in the description attached to the application are verifiable and suitable to this purpose.

Technical Report: Electronic Cabin of the Fourth Official

The electronic cabin is defined as an exclusive location pertaining to the fourth official, Who may replace the referee at any time during an official match, e.g., in case the Referee is injured, even temporarily, or for any other reason. This is an enclosed space whose transparency ensures a perfect view, comfort and safety.

The technical characteristics described herein are devised to offer the best possible conditions to the person operating in the cabin. Its size is limited to avoid any hindrance to the view of the football ground. It is a pleasant-looking structure with reduced encumbrance. The steel and aluminium frame is lightweight and made of components which are easy to carry and assemble. Its adjustable cover protects the cabin from any weather which may hamper the fourth official's correct view. Its surface is a suitable space for possible sponsors.

The clear panels, which are inspired by squash courts, are made of LEXSAN or other Plastic material which offers suitable strength and transparency.

The roofing may be closed on the sides only, or also frontally, if necessary. Access is through side doors without any metal parts.

The back wall is screened, which may offer a suitable space for sponsors. The base gives stability to the structure and separates the internal electronic equipment From the football ground, besides providing room for the required power cable. The interior of the cabin is furnished with a desk for two operators and computers, two seats and a small filing cabinet where documents and any other necessary objects may be stored. However, the cabin may be built of bigger size to house several operators, should it be required to ensure maximum operational certainty and reliability. The top band consists of LEDS of different colours, displaying the decisions of the fourth official or ordinary information concerning player changeovers during the game. Finally, electronic detectors (or cameras) are located which, together with the electronic system, give support information to the fourth official who may check the referee's decisions and correct his mistake. For example, when fouls occur within the penalty area, whereby a player is sent off the field or a penalty is kicked, these fouls are sometimes overlooked and a penalty is not called, whereas by placing three fixed cameras behind the goals and one behind the corner flag post, football teams would no longer be damaged and malicious fouls would be punished. Thanks to the intervention of the fourth official, this device would help solve many instances that are unpunished today because the referee and his cooperators do not act promptly. All the technical specifications of the project are shown in the enclosed drawings and pictures A, B, C, D, E. Width is 2 mt, length is 2.5 mt and the roof may be open to 2.41,84. The cabin may vary in size up to a 12-mt length. It may also be adopted as benches for both teams, so that there are consistent designs and dimensions all over the football ground. The fourth camera is to be located at an 8-mt distance from the corner flag post and behind the linesman, thus allowing the fourth official to call an offside more correctly. Off sides often cause objections against the referee's official decisions during and after Football matches.

Referees may make mistakes due to an oversight or because they move across the field to reach a better position and cannot decide immediately, whereas the fourth official may immediately signal his autonomous decision to the referee. So the device would enable the referee to be immediately informed by means of the receiver located in the stopwatch or through the VIBRACALL or displayed on the cabin. This device would then give great advantages in terms of ethical behaviour and peacefulness, with no occasions that may lead to damage to property, injuries and casualties. The decisions made by the referees would then be displayed in real time on the advertising screens that may now be found in many football grounds.

The camera behind the corner flag post may be located inside the post so that, in case of an oversight by the referee and the linesmen, the fourth official might decide on any case. For example, if the football has gone over the line but has curved going back into the field, then the linesman may be mistaken and objections may arise, especially if a goal is scored as a consequence of the same action. In such cases, a wide-range camera might solve this problem.

If there is fog, a football match could be suspended because the linesmen inform the Referee that they cannot see properly when the football goes over the goal line or the side line, the equipment may help overcome this difficulty (see enclosed drawing) by configuring the football ground with red light dots. Another possible solution is to place an underground parallel line beside the side lines, at a distance equal to the circumference of the football. It would be made of synthetic material and include a red (or other suitable colour) neon light, which would become visible to the linesmen both in the event of fog or occasional snowfall which would cover the lines. The line is 12 cm wide and as long as required, and houses a battery neon light which is safe in any weather conditions and for all participants, whether supporters, attendants, operators and players. The only necessary operation is powering the battery to create an underground, connected parallel line, which would allow completing the match even in case of a snowfall, as the heat generated by the neon light would melt the snow falling on the line during the match. The distance of the buried neon light would enable the linesmen to decide whether the football has gone over the line.

Electronic Football Description

This football consists of hexagons and pentagons and is much alike an ordinary football, used by football teams all over the world. The only difference is that it includes several sensors signalling when the football has gone over the 12-cm goal line described above, marked at the end of the football ground, which would mean that a goal has been scored as soon as the football has crossed all the white line.

The sensors may be electronic sensors, pressure or metallic detection ones, or infrared detection sensors as well. One or more sensors may be applied and adapted in suitable position in the bladder or in the inside volume of the ball.

Their position has to be chosen to guarantee:

The correct detection of the ball crossing the goal line and/or the moment when the Player kicks it;

-   -   the correct director indirect transmission to the referee of the         signal that the above mentioned situations have occurred.

The Sensor may be fixed to the bladder or in each position in the internal volume of the Ball in one of the following ways or in a combination of some of them:

1 sticking or direct fixing any part of the Sensor on any internal surface of the ball (example in picture 1);

2 sticking or fixing of any container or support of the Sensor of any shape and size (example in picture 4);

3 insertion of the Sensor in a pocket or marsupium integrated in the bladder, or fixing/sticking of the pocket or marsupium which contains the sensor to the bladder (example in picture 5);

4 all the systems above listed may be realized adapting or not the sensor surface to the support one or vice versa (example in picture 3);

5 fixing of the Sensor on the internal surface of the ball through one or more supports whose ends/extremities are stuck or fixed in any way to the support surface (example in picture 6); the fixing of the sensor to the support may be obtained in any of the different methods listed in point 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6;

6 fixing of the Sensor in any way to the internal volume of the ball through partial or total filling of it, with material of any density and chemical nature, single or composite, expanded, flexible or compact, not fixed to the surface of support or fixed to it in any way (example in picture 7);

7 fixing of the Sensor through one or more straps of any shape and size, drawn in the bladder through openings made in it, or created during the phase of press, or applied after the press by sticking or fixing them in any way to any part of the internal surface of the ball (example in picture 8).

The football becomes neither heavier nor bigger, as the sensors weigh under 10 gr. The sensors are of different sizes and frequencies, and are all used for the purpose envisaged by the industrial patent herein, i.e., to transmit all the solutions to the receivers, VIBRACALL watches, advertising displays and any possible further applications, that May be found in the future through worldwide research studies.

They may be located either vertically or horizontally, provided they are not bent when fitted in, otherwise their function to signal when the football has crossed the goal line may be hampered.

The distances of the ULTRA Post Dual Transceiver may vary. They may be set behind the goal, i.e., at the back of the goalkeepers who are not disturbed by their presence, as they may be set in different positions and spaced both horizontally and vertically according to what are thought to be the best detection positions, to be decided during set-up.

The best location for the Ultra Post Dual Transceiver according to the current Conditions is under the lawn and behind the goal, as shown in the attached drawing, where they are located horizontally. For detection purposes, they are to be located at a 122-cm distance from the lawn level and above, to detect the passive sensor located inside the football bladder. Its special detection positions, on the directions of the hexagons and the pentagons of the football, signal in real time that a goal has been scored, informing the referee and his cooperators through their stopwatches.

The sensors are located at various distances along the full height (2.44 mt) and length (7.32) of the goal, thus forming an invisible detection grid behind the goalkeeper.

Starting from a 34.300-cm distance, adding the diameter of the football and the goal line, The Ultra Post Dual Transceivers may be located at approx. 60-cm intervals, until Reaching a distance that is though to be sufficient, up to 3 mt from the goal line and behind the goalkeepers.

In order to fully cover the goal, you may locate 4 autonomously operating Ultra Post Dual Transceivers in a line. They may operate separately or jointly.

According to the industrial patent design described herein, any equipment currently manufactured worldwide may be used for detection purposes. Any adaptable systems may be used to detect a football crossing the goal line and allow the referee to call a goal in real time and with no mistakes.

The sensor signals a goal each time a football crosses the goal line, so that the referee may no longer avoid calling a goal for whatever reason, including when a back player or the goalkeeper kick the ball back. 

1. An electronically detectable ball usable for a ball game, comprising: a bladder, an external covering enclosing said bladder, and a sensor, at least a portion of which is integrated into said bladder.
 2. The electronically detectable ball of claim 1, wherein said portion of the sensor comprises a plurality of individual sensor elements.
 3. The electronically detectable ball of claim 1, further comprising supporting means for supporting at least said portion of the sensor.
 4. The electronically detectable ball of claim 1, further comprising an electronic sensor located within said external covering.
 5. The electronically detectable ball of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a plurality of sensor elements in an inner space enclosed by said bladder.
 6. The electronically detectable ball of claim 5, wherein one of said plurality of sensor elements is accommodated by a pocket fixed to an inner surface of said bladder.
 7. The electronically detectable ball of claim 5, wherein one of said plurality of sensor elements is accommodated by a pocket formed by a portion of said bladder.
 8. The electronically detectable ball of claim 5, wherein one of said plurality of sensor elements is positioned in said inner space by a filling material.
 9. The electronically detectable ball of claim 1, wherein said sensor is configured to be responsive to pressure and/or infra-red radiation and/or to a metal detector.
 10. A sensor system for detecting a position of an electronically detectable ball, the system comprising: a transceiver configured to detect an electronically detectable ball, and a support structure configured to support said transceiver at a predefined area of a game field.
 11. The system of claim 10 wherein said transceiver is configured to detect said electronically detectable ball with a spatial resolution that is equal to or less than a diameter of said electronically detectable ball.
 12. The system of claim 10, further comprising an indicator means configured to indicate, when said electronically detectable ball is within a specified region of said predefined area.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein said indicator means comprises a mobile display means configured to wirelessly communicate with said indicator means.
 14. The system of claim 10 wherein the electronically detectable ball comprises: a bladder; an external covering enclosing said bladder; and a sensor, at least a portion of which is integrated into said bladder. 